GREENING SYNAGOGUES RESOURCES

Basics for Congregational Professionals

1. COEJL Mission (share statement):
   1. Focus on intra-faith element: standing coalition uniting Reform, Recon, Cons., Orthodox
   2. Explain multiple entry-points to Jewish-environmental work, from recycling to advocacy
2. Jewish-Environmental Synthesis – i.e., why is this important for us? – only if needed
   To the extent they ask ‘what’s Jewish about the environment’, articulate response for synagogue:
   1. It affects us, and everything else we do. Global health is context for all things Jewish.
   2. It’s good for us – ‘continuity’. Especially with younger folks, environmental activity in a synagogue establishes its, and Judaism’s, relevance and resonance.
   3. It’s good for us – ‘community relations’. Great way to be a good neighbor.
   4. Above all: It’s a Jewish issue, as Jewish as Shabbat or kashrut or prayer! Highlights:
      1. Shabbat – celebrating Creation through cutting consumption
      2. Bal Tashchit – a mitzvah to not waste (and Tzaar Ba’alei Chayim, be nice to animals)
      3. Pikuach Nefesh – saving a human life, from global warming or urban air pollution
      4. Seder Bereshit – the ‘orders of Creation’ – every species is Divine, and has its place
      5. Chagim / Festivals – there’s a natural / agricultural basis behind every holiday
      6. Tefillah / Prayer – finding God through nature (see Psalms, Yotzeir, Modim, etc)
3. Awareness & Protection of Creation in a Synagogue Program:
   1. Adult Education – offer class, series, seminar, book discussion group on this timely theme
   2. Child Education – integrate ecological concerns into formal curriculum (COEJL program bank)
   3. Family Education & Youth Group – sponsor park or river clean-ups, hikes, advocacy outings
   4. From the Bimah – it’s on people’s minds; be sure that Creation gets its due in sermons, etc
   5. Social Action Committee/Program – education, awareness, experience, coalitions, advocacy
   6. Holiday Celebrations – highlight natural/agricultural elements at Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot
   7. But the biggest difference you can make is with building and grounds – see below
4. Greening your Building and Grounds (Talking Points as FAQ’s):
   1. What? Let’s say I’m convinced -- What are some simple things I / we can do?
      1. Energy: get audited; replace incandescents with CFL’s; educate members & janitors to “religiously” turn off lights; buy green electricity (if offered); Energy Star appliances
      2. Supplies: post-consumer recycled paper for office; keep clean-on-one-side paper in printers for internal use; recycle in office & kitchen; use non-toxic cleaning solvents
      3. Grounds: avoid pesticides and chemical fertilizers – it won’t be a chem-lawn, but it’ll be healthy! Plant only / mostly native species. Xeriscape (low-water use). Compost. Plant theme gardens – involve kids; teach tithing, biblical species, etc.
      4. Construction: in building, expanding, or remodeling, consider the materials that make God’s house. Get certified sustainable wood. Avoid vinyl. Use passive/active solar.
   2. Why? Why should this become “my issue” or “the congregation’s issue”?
      1. Global health – contribute less to climate change, pollution of local water & air, etc
      2. Members’ health, especially children – extra-conscious lawn-care, cleaning supplies
      3. Follow Jewish teachings – see above, plus “precautionary principle” (Dt. 22:8, etc)
   3. How Much? It may be nice to do, but money’s tight, and we can’t divert budget to this…
      1. Many energy conservation initiatives actually save money through lower utility costs
      2. Some initiatives are cost-neutral – you just need to ask your suppliers to switch
      3. Consider long-term impact: CFL’s cost more up front, pay off in 2-3 years, then save
      4. Perhaps there are donors willing to subsidize these particular initiatives
      5. Even if better means more expensive: what’s more important than Creation care?
   4. How do I get involved? What else can I do? What else can our synagogue do?
      1. Review basic programmatic & building-and-grounds sustainability tips, above.
      2. Check www.coejl.org for more programmatic ideas.
      3. See below/elsewhere for a starter list of some websites and publications for more detail
      4. Please put your name down on the piece of paper now going around the room, if you’d like to be in touch with one of our staff people or volunteers
      5. Stay in touch with COEJL, so we can know the cumulative impact of the actions toward sustainability that synagogues around the country are taking!
         Thank you…